In this instance, Walus was speaking directly to Aspect’s custom-built, 3D bio-printers, which are designed by Walus and co-founder, Tamer Mohamed to print “functional models of specific cellular
The Canadian company is partnering with a major pharmaceutical firm to produce bio-printed cells which will be used for the testing phase of new drug development. Let’s say a company is producing a new drug that could reduce tumor size. Aspect’s 3D bio-printer is programmed to print cells modeled after those of the tumor of an individual patient, tailor-made, as it were. The cells, which are printed and suspended in hydrogel, can be tested rather than actual human tissue. One major benefit of this system, noted Walus, is that it would “limit the amount of animal testing drug companies require, and reduce the risk of taking a potentially ineffective or dangerous drug all the way to clinical trial.” Of course, this would also save pharmaceutical companies a great deal of money, a major consideration when a company is considering developing a new drug.
The partnership between Aspect and University of British Columbia (UBC) is perhaps the most significant underlying element of this story. Indeed, academic and private industry can (and clearly do) work in sync to develop critical technologies more rapidly than ever before. In fact, Walus teaches engineering at UBC in Vancouver, and two of the founders of Aspect were students of Walus at the University, which benefits “from any success Aspect achieves.” The rewards of this partnership are evident as well in that Aspect was one of ten finalists in the BCIC (British Columbia Innovation Council) New Ventures Competition, which “takes place over four successive, and increasingly complex, rounds.” Winners were selected on September 22 and Aspect took second prize, $55,000.
Walus cautiously points out that, while the technology represents a tremendous breakthrough in 3D bio-printing, we’re still several years, possibly even a decade, away from fully realizing the 3D-printed heart and other organs. However, he described a likely scenario of the not-too-distant future: “If you need a new organ [today], what happens? You get an organ from someone else.” He continued, “You’re literally taking somebody else’s body and integrating it with your own.” Perhaps Walus was addressing the ethical misgivings of some, who see Frankenstein’s monsters instead of medical “miracles,” when he concluded,” That seems to me a lot more of a freakish thing than using your own cells to manufacture a replacement part for yourself.”
Could Aspect Biosystems be one of the eventual leaders within the field of bio-printing? What are your thoughts? Discuss in the 3D bio-printing forum thread on 3DPB.com.